Chinese Character: 狼
1. Character Basics
Radical: 犭 (dog radical)
Stroke Count: 10
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: láng (Second tone)
3. Meaning
Wolf
4. Common Words
- 狼狗 (lánggǒu) - wolfdog; German shepherd
- 狼吞虎咽 (lángtūnhǔyàn) - to wolf down food; to eat greedily
- 狼心狗肺 (lángxīngǒufèi) - heartless; cruel; ungrateful
- 狼藉 (lángjí) - in a mess; scattered; disorderly
- 狼烟 (lángyān) - smoke signal; warning signal
- 狼狈 (lángbèi) - in a difficult situation; embarrassed; awkward
- 狼子野心 (lángzǐyěxīn) - wolfish ambition; evil intentions
- 狼狈为奸 (lángbèi wéijiān) - to collaborate in evil; to work together in doing wrong
5. Grammar & Usage
The character "狼" is primarily used as a noun, referring to the animal wolf. It is also commonly used in idiomatic expressions, often with negative connotations related to greed, cruelty, or danger.
Grammar Patterns:
- 狼+狗: 狼狗 (wolfdog)
- 狼+吞+虎+咽: 狼吞虎咽 (to wolf down food)
- 狼+心+狗+肺: 狼心狗肺 (heartless)
- 狼+藉: 狼藉 (in a mess)
- 狼+烟: 狼烟 (smoke signal)
- 狼+狈: 狼狈 (in a difficult situation)
- 狼+子+野+心: 狼子野心 (wolfish ambition)
- 狼+狈+为+奸: 狼狈为奸 (to collaborate in evil)
6. Cultural Background
The character "狼" has a complex cultural significance in Chinese culture. Traditionally, wolves have been viewed as symbols of greed, cruelty, and danger, which is reflected in many Chinese idioms and expressions that use the character "狼".
In ancient Chinese literature, wolves were often depicted as fierce and cunning animals, preying on weaker creatures. This negative association has persisted in many idioms like "狼心狗肺" (heartless) and "狼子野心" (wolfish ambition).
However, in recent years, there has been a shift in perception, and wolves are also recognized for their intelligence, loyalty to their pack, and survival skills. This more balanced view is reflected in some modern Chinese literature and media.
The character's structure, with "犭" (dog radical) on the left and "良" on the right, is interesting because while the left part indicates its relation to animals, the right part means "good" or "fine," creating an intriguing contrast with the character's primary meaning.
7. Example Sentence
中文: 狼是一种肉食性动物，通常成群生活。
Pinyin: Láng shì yī zhǒng ròushíxìng dòngwù, tōngcháng chéngqún shēnghuó.
English: Wolf is a carnivorous animal that usually lives in packs.
8. Memory Tips
The character "狼" (láng) consists of two parts:
- The radical "犭" (dog radical) on the left, indicating that the meaning is related to animals
- The component "良" on the right, which provides the pronunciation
To remember the character, think of it as "a canine (犭) animal with the pronunciation 'liang' (良)".
Associate the character with images of wolves and common idioms like "狼吞虎咽" (to wolf down food) to help with memorization.
Learn the stroke order and practice writing the character to help remember its structure and stroke count.
Note the interesting contrast between the animal-related radical on the left and the positive meaning of "良" on the right, which makes this character memorable.